Many hospitals across the country are running up huge debts despite the billions of pounds of extra funding going into the NHS, according to figures seen by the Times.

The government statistics show that at the end of the last financial year, nine hospital trusts had deficits of more than £10 million, 14 had deficits of more than £5 million, and another 39 of more than £1 million.

Almost one third of all NHS trusts were in deficit, with the total standing at more than £350 million.